Resolution 43/233
(April 20, 1989)
The General Assembly,
Having considered the item entitled
"Question of Palestine",
Guided by the principles of the Charter of the
United Nations and the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights,1/
Gravely concerned at and alarmed by the
deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel
since 1967, including Jerusalem,
Expressing its profound shock at the latest
action of members of the Israeli armed forces on 13 April 1989, which
resulted in the killing and wounding of Palestinian civilians in the town
of Nahalin,
Having considered the statement of the
Secretary-General on 13 April 1989 relative to that raid,
Aware that Israel, the occupying Power, has
imposed limitations on Palestinian Muslims that restrict their
participation in the life of their community and in the observance of their
religious rites and obligations,
Taking into account the need to consider means
for the impartial protection of the Palestinian civilian population under
Israeli occupation,
Considering that the current policies and
practices of Israel, the occupying Power, in the occupied Palestinian
territory are bound to have grave consequences for the endeavours to
achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East,
Reaffirming once again that the Geneva Convention
Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August
1949, is applicable to the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied
by Israel, including Jerusalem,
1. Condemns those policies and practices of
Israel, the occupying Power, which violate the human rights of the
Palestinian people in the occupied territory, including the right of
freedom of worship, and, in particular, the opening of fire by Israeli
armed forces, which has resulted in the killing and wounding of defenceless
Palestinian civilians, and specifically the latest action of members of the
Israeli armed forces against the defenceless civilians in the Palestinian
town of Nahalin;
2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power,
abide scrupulously by the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and that it desist
immediately from those policies and practices which are in violation of the
provisions of the Convention;
3. Requests the Security Council to consider with
urgency the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory with a view to
considering measures needed to provide international protection to the
Palestinian civilians in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since
1967, including Jerusalem;
4. Stresses the urgent need to expedite the
convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, under
the auspices of the United Nations and in conformity with the provisions of
General Assembly resolution 43/176 of 15 December 1988;
5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit
periodic reports on developments in the occupied Palestinian territory.
* * *
1/ Resolution 217 A (III).
2/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75,
No. 973.
RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 43/233: 129-2-1
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola,
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic,
Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, German Democratic Republic,
Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic
of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao
People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,
Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New
Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua
New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay,
Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Israel, United States of America.
Abstaining: Liberia.
____________
*Later the delegations of Ecuador and Vanuatu advised
the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.
Sources: The United Nations |